May 4 UPFRONT: Lazich says Voter ID has tough fight, but not dead

State Sen. Mary Lazich concedes it's unlikely tougher voter ID will be implemented ahead of the fall election after a Milwaukee federal court ruling striking down the Republican law.

Lazich, a Republican from New Berlin, told “UpFront with Mike Gousha” Sunday that federal Judge Lynn Adelman’s ruling was expected but she anticipates a successful appeal.

"The prospects are dim for November of 2014, but I wouldn't say it’s totally dead just yet," Lazich told the show, produced in partnership with WisPolitics.com. "The governor indicated he could call a special session, given what we might get from the state Supreme Court ruling."

NAACP Milwaukee Attorney Richard Saks joined Lazich on the program. He agreed it's unlikely the voter ID rulings with be overturned before the November vote.

"We feel confident that the tides have turned somewhat," Saks said."To have voter ID in November 2014 would mean that both the Wisconsin Supreme Court and some federal appellate court would have to reverse what were two pretty well-reasoned judicial decisions."

Saks said the court decisions were based on weeks of testimony he said showed the law impacting 900,000 voters around the state who currently lack sufficient ID. He said the law would cost the state money and place an undue burden on voters, while only preventing one type of voter fraud.

"In the history of Wisconsin there’s never been a conviction, much less a prosecution, of someone who attempted to impersonate another voter," Saks said. "We’re shooting democracy in the foot, essentially, by trying to disenfranchise such a large portion of the electorate."

Lazich said the law isn't an undue burden: "It may be inconvenient, but life is full of inconveniences."

As to the fraud issue, Lazich said there's not a sufficient paper trail after an election, adding that temporary workers may not know how to handle voting irregularities.

"When you have a consistent best practices model of showing a photo ID across the state, that eliminates a lot of the problems," Lazich said."Polls show 70 to 80 percent of people want this."

Saks disagreed, saying he believes public opinion of voter ID has changed. He said many liked the idea of the law at first, but have shifted position after observing the outcome and voting process in other states.

State Sen. Joe Leibham expressed support for further appeals of the voter ID law, saying he didn't expect a negative reaction to the legislation.

Leibham has announced his departure from his Sheboygan seat to run for the 6th Congressional District, which will be open after the retirement of U.S. Rep. Tom Petri. He said adjusting the focus and scope of the federal government is his primary goal.

"I believe the people of the Sixth district want an individual who is going to be focusing on reforming our federal government," Leibham said. "There’s frustration and disappointment with where our nation is at and where we’re going."

He's joined in the primary race by Sen. Glenn Grothman and Rep. Duey Stroebel. Leibham said his ability to "bring people to the conservative cause" sets him apart from his opponents. Both Grothman and Stroebel said they believe the district seeks more conservative representation.

Stroebel previously has criticized long-term politicians, without specifically targeting Grothman or Leibham, who has served in the Legislature for more than 15 years. Leibham said his experience would translate well to the U.S. House.

"This district needs a representative that can get things done … that’s who I am, I’ve got 11 years of private sector experience,"Leibham said, referring to his time as an account executive at Sargento. "I believe there is a good aspect to knowing how to get things done in the state Legislature; I’ll do that in Washington as well."

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Washington bureau chief Craig Gilbert said the Milwaukee metro area is the most politically divided region in the nation. Gilbert participated in a fellowship at Marquette Law School comparing the political leanings of Milwaukee County to surrounding Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington Counties.

"While we’re emblematic of a lot of broader national trends, we’re really remarkable in the degree to which Democrats and Republicans are not only divided politically individually, but they’re living in different communities," Gilbert said.

In a trend spanning decades, according to Gilbert, the conservative and liberal leanings of the area have grown stronger and further apart. He said voter turnout is particularly high in the region, with some of the largest percentages of eligible votes cast in the 2012 presidential election.

"You’re talking about a very mobilized, urban, Democratic county in Milwaukee, and then the three suburban counties, by some measures, are the highest performing Republican counties in America," Gilbert said.

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